71
Time: Day
Location: Inside a Western restaurant
Characters: Jiang Muya, Yu Renjie, Shen Tingting, Tang Xiaoshi, students
▲ In a corner of the Western restaurant, Jiang Muya and Yu Renjie are seated. On the table are two bottles of champagne and the championship trophy.
Jiang Muya: “Renjie, later we will drink champagne using this trophy.”
Yu Renjie: (sign language) “Congratulations on achieving your wish.”
Jiang Muya: “Write it on paper. I don’t understand sign language and I’m too lazy to guess.”
▲ Renjie writes on a note: “Congratulations on achieving your wish.”
Jiang Muya: “Thank you. Actually, participating in the singing ranking competition, I was just gambling on a breath of determination with myself.”
Renjie: (writing) “I understand your thinking.”
Jiang Muya: “When I held this trophy on stage, I told myself: I can do it, and I did it. The strong desire to become a singer actually began to fade from that moment.”
Renjie: (writing) “Then what are your plans for the future?”
Jiang Muya: “I want to rest for a while. People are not like springs; they cannot remain compressed for long.”
Renjie: (writing) “That’s fine. Think it through, then decide how to take the next step.”
▲ Muya opens the two bottles of champagne one after another and pours them into the trophy.
Jiang Muya: “The first sip is for you, as thanks to you. Good friend, if I hadn’t sung the songs you wrote for me, I might not have been able to reach this trophy.”
▲ Muya pushes the trophy toward Renjie. Renjie lifts it, takes a big sip, then hands it to Muya. Muya also takes a big sip. The two look at each other and smile; everything is understood without words.
72
Time: Day
Location: Jiang Muya’s living room
Characters: Jiang Muya, Vivian, Wu Yuetian, Liu Yufeng (record company manager)
▲ Wu Yuetian and manager Liu Yufeng come together to visit Jiang Muya.
Liu Yufeng: “Miss Jiang, the conditions our company offers—whether signing bonus, training plan, profit sharing, even packaging and promotion—are all top-tier domestically. Our long-term goal is the mainland market, the vast Chinese-speaking market. That is why we were able to sign Yuetian immediately. With your appearance and singing ability, you will have the chance to replace diva A-Mei and become a new-generation queen of Asian pop. Please consider carefully.”
Wu Yuetian: “Yes! Muya, although I lost to you, for the sake of being old classmates, I really hope you can rise like a phoenix to the top and create an unprecedented wave in the Chinese music market. Our company has a complete training plan and will tailor-make new albums for you every year.”
Jiang Muya: “Yuetian, to be honest, other record companies have already approached me. I am still considering and will not make a decision quickly.”
Liu Yufeng: “Then, may I ask how long Miss Jiang will need to consider?”
Jiang Muya: “Give me one month. However, if I choose to sign with your company, I have two additional conditions.”
Liu Yufeng: “I would like to hear them in detail.”
Jiang Muya: “In each of my albums, priority must be given to the original songs written by that friend of mine.”
Wu Yuetian: “The person you’re referring to—is it Yu Renjie?”
Jiang Muya: “Yes. Every song he writes has a high level of audience acceptance.”
Liu Yufeng: “That’s no problem. I have long heard of this talented pop music composer. If he is willing to write songs for you, that is even better for the company. Then your second condition?”
Jiang Muya: “If the company commissions songs from others, I must have the right to select them.”
Liu Yufeng: “From this, it can be seen that Miss Jiang has principles in song selection and very high self-requirements. I will explain this to the company’s decision-making level first, but I believe they will accept it. It has been a pleasant conversation tonight. We await your good news.”
Wu Yuetian: “Muya, I sincerely invite you to sign and join us. If you and I can work together, it will definitely produce a multiplier effect—one plus one greater than two.”
▲ The two take their leave and depart.
Vivian: “That Wu Yuetian is indeed very eloquent, but I intuitively feel he is not very reliable. Muya, you must think carefully yourself. There is no need to rush.”
Jiang Muya: “Mommy, I know.”
Vivian: “In my opinion, that Yu Renjie from before is the boy who truly treats you well, although he is mute.”
Jiang Muya: “Stop it, Mommy. I have my own thoughts.”
73
Time: Day
Location: Jiang Muya’s Living Room
Characters: Jiang Muya, Vivian, Wu Yuetian, Liu Yufeng (Record Company Manager)
▲ Wu Yuetian and Manager Liu Yufeng visit Jiang Muya together.
Liu Yufeng: “Miss Jiang, the conditions offered by our company—whether it is the signing bonus, training plans, profit sharing, or even packaging and promotion—are all among the best in the country. Our long-term goal is set across the strait, targeting the vast Chinese-speaking market. That is why we were able to sign Yuetian at the earliest opportunity. With your external qualities and singing ability, you will have the chance in the future to replace the diva A-Mei and become a new-generation queen of Asian pop. Please be sure to consider this carefully.”
Wu Yuetian: “Yes! Muya, although I lost to you, for the sake of our old schoolmate relationship, I sincerely hope you can rise like a phoenix and create an unprecedented sensation in the Chinese music market. Our company has a complete training program, and every year we will tailor-make and release a new album for you.”
Jiang Muya: “Yuetian, to be honest, other record companies have already approached me. I am still considering and won’t make a decision so quickly.”
Liu Yufeng: “Then, Miss Jiang, may I ask approximately how long you will consider?”
Jiang Muya: “Give me one month, alright? However, if I choose to sign with your company, I have two additional conditions.”
Liu Yufeng: “I would be glad to hear them.”
Jiang Muya: “For every album of mine, the songs written by my friend will be given priority consideration.”
Wu Yuetian: “The person you’re referring to—is it Yu Renjie?”
Jiang Muya: “Yes. Every song he writes is highly accepted by listeners.”
Liu Yufeng: “That’s no problem. I have long admired the reputation of this talented pop music composer. If he is willing to write songs for you, that would be even better for the company. Then what is your second condition?”
Jiang Muya: “If the company commissions songs from other writers, I must be allowed to select them myself.”
Liu Yufeng: “From this, I can see that Miss Jiang has strong principles in song selection and high self-demands. I will first explain this to the company’s decision-making level, but I believe they will accept it. It has been a pleasure speaking with you tonight. We will await your good news.”
Wu Yuetian: “Muya, I sincerely invite you to sign and join us. If we can work together, it will definitely create a multiplier effect—one plus one greater than two.”
▲ The two take their leave and depart.
Vivian: “This Wu Yuetian is indeed eloquent, but my intuition tells me he is not very reliable. Muya, you must think it through carefully yourself. There’s no need to rush.”
Jiang Muya: “Mommy, I know.”
Vivian: “In my opinion, that Yu Renjie from before is the boy who truly treats you well, even though he is mute.”
Jiang Muya: “Please stop, Mommy. I have my own thoughts.”
74
Time: Day
Location: Boys’ Dormitory, Girls’ Dormitory
Characters: Yu Renjie, Shen Tingting, Tang Wanyu
▲ In the girls’ dormitory, Shen Tingting is watching Jiang Muya’s stage performance songs on YouTube, wearing headphones.
Tang Wanyu: “Little Dragon Girl, what are you listening to?”
Shen Tingting: “I’m listening to some nice lyrical songs…”
Tang Wanyu: (curious) “Who is singing?”
Shen Tingting: “Jiang Muya, of course—senior ‘Father’s’ dream lover.”
Tang Wanyu: “Oh really? Then why are you getting involved? Just be a background extra.”
Shen Tingting: “If I’m just a background extra, do I still have any role to play?”
Tang Wanyu: “Don’t tell me you want to become someone’s mistress?”
Shen Tingting: “Mistress? No such thing. ‘Father’ isn’t with her. I want to be the Cheng Yaojin who suddenly appears halfway!”
Tang Wanyu: “I think you need a rabies shot first. Do you know you’ve really gone crazy?”
Shen Tingting: “Strange! You seem to have had a preconceived prejudice against senior ‘Father’ all along.”
Tang Wanyu: “I just don’t want you to regret it in the future. ‘Father’ is mute—do you really want to live with a mute for a lifetime?”
Shen Tingting: “Silence is better than sound, isn’t it? What’s wrong with that?”
Tang Wanyu: “Did you drink some enchanted water he gave you?”
Shen Tingting: “No. Honestly, you really should listen to the songs he wrote.”
Tang Wanyu: “I only listen to classical music. I don’t accept any vulgar and shallow pop noise.”
Shen Tingting: “Then you should listen to his songs even more. If there is truly heavenly music, it should be like his—able to penetrate the heart and stir the soul.”
Tang Wanyu: “Fine. Seeing how you defend him, I’ll believe you this once. Add those songs to my favorites, and I’ll listen when I have time.”
Shen Tingting: (bowing slightly) “Thank you, Leader Fish Ball Soup, for your favor. Little Dragon Girl is deeply grateful.”
Tang Wanyu: (laughing) “Oh, stop it! Still putting on airs!”
△ Camera cuts.
▲ Renjie and Tingting are chatting online via instant messaging.
Shen Tingting: (typing) “Senior, I saw it—a beautiful red-haired girl. This evening she was linking arms with you on Coconut Palm Avenue. Is she your girlfriend?”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “She is a high school classmate of mine. She invited me to dinner.”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “Oh really? Why would a high school classmate link arms with you? Isn’t that something only couples do? Come on, say it—you should have a girlfriend. I won’t laugh at you.”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “Not a girlfriend—just a good friend I get along with.”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “Then she’s a confidante? Same situation as me—we’re both your fans.”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “I suppose so.”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “My roommate said that Miss Jiang has quite a background! She’s the annual champion of the Singing Celebrity Ranking. And all the songs she sang in the competition were specially written by you.”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “Oh.”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “Senior, stop saying ‘oh’!”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “Oh!”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “I’m learning to sing the songs you wrote.”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “Oh oh, oh?”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “I’m serious. I’ve listened to several of your songs—every one is excellent. The melodies are elegant and beautiful, and the lyrics are meaningful with lingering resonance.”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “3Q!”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “Senior, can you photocopy a copy of your compositions for me so I can practice on my own?”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “Practice on your own?”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “I’m very good at imitating singers, not lying to you.”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “Why imitate others? You can sing in your own style and characteristics. I’ll play the piano and practice with you.”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “Great, great! I couldn’t ask for more!”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “Oh no! I’ve fallen into your trap…”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “Hehe! With a professional pianist accompanying me, of course I must seize the opportunity—even though I only treat singing as a hobby.”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “Singing—or music—should be an art that pleases the mind and ears. To treat it as a tool for pursuing fame and profit would be vulgar and mechanical…”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “Of course I understand that. That’s why I treat music as a hobby. But your level and realm are clearly different from mine—you are professional, while I’m just doing it for fun.”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “Interest is the most important. Interest can be elevated into passion.”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “Yes indeed. Senior, I’m all sweaty—I’m logging off to take a shower.”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “Oh, bye-bye.”
75
Time: Day
Location: Jiang Muya’s Living Room
Characters: Jiang Muya, Vivian, Wu Yuetian, Liu Yufeng (Record Company Manager)
▲ Wu Yuetian and Manager Liu Yufeng visit Jiang Muya together.
Liu Yufeng: “Miss Jiang, the conditions offered by our company—whether it is the signing bonus, training plans, and profit sharing, or even packaging and promotion—are all among the best in the country. Our long-term goal is set across the strait, targeting the vast Chinese-speaking market, which is why we were able to sign Yuetian at the earliest opportunity. With your outward qualities and singing ability, you will have the chance in the future to replace the diva A-Mei and become a new-generation queen of Asian pop. Please be sure to consider this carefully.”
Wu Yuetian: “Yes! Muya, although I am the one who lost to you, for the sake of our old schoolmate relationship, I sincerely hope you can rise like a phoenix to the top branch and create an unprecedented whirlwind in the Chinese-language music market. Our company has a comprehensive training plan, and every year we will specially tailor and release a new album for you.”
Jiang Muya: “Yuetian, to be honest, other record companies have already approached me. I am still considering it and will not make a decision so quickly.”
Liu Yufeng: “Then, Miss Jiang, may I ask approximately how long you will consider?”
Jiang Muya: “Give me one month, alright? However, if I choose to sign with your company, I have two additional conditions.”
Liu Yufeng: “I would be glad to hear them.”
Jiang Muya: “For every one of my albums, the songs written by that friend of mine will be given priority consideration.”
Wu Yuetian: “The person you’re referring to—is it Yu Renjie?”
Jiang Muya: “Yes. Every song he writes has a very high level of acceptance among listeners.”
Liu Yufeng: “That’s no problem. I have long admired the reputation of this talented pop music composer. If he is willing to write songs for you, it would be even better for the company. Then what is your second condition?”
Jiang Muya: “If the company commissions songs from other writers, I must be allowed to select them.”
Liu Yufeng: “From this, it can be seen that Miss Jiang has strong principles in selecting songs and very high self-demands. I will first explain this to the company’s decision-making level, but I believe they should accept it. It has been a pleasant conversation tonight. We will await your good news.”
Wu Yuetian: “Muya, I sincerely invite you to sign and join us. If the two of us can work together, it will definitely have a multiplier effect—one plus one greater than two.”
▲ The two take their leave and depart.
Vivian: “This Wu Yuetian is indeed very eloquent, but my intuition tells me that he is not very reliable. Muya, you must think it through carefully yourself. There is no need to rush.”
Jiang Muya: “Mommy, I know.”
Vivian: “In my opinion, that Yu Renjie from before is the boy who truly treats you well, although he is mute.”
Jiang Muya: “Please stop, Mommy. I have my own thoughts.”
76
Time: Day
Location: Boys’ Dormitory, Girls’ Dormitory
Characters: Yu Renjie, Shen Tingting, Tang Wanyu
▲ Inside the girls’ dormitory, Shen Tingting has YouTube on, wearing headphones, watching Jiang Muya’s performance songs on stage.
Tang Wanyu: “Little Dragon Girl, what are you listening to?”
Shen Tingting: “I’m listening to some nice lyrical songs…”
Tang Wanyu: (curious) “Who is singing?”
Shen Tingting: “Jiang Muya, of course—senior ‘Father’s’ dream lover.”
Tang Wanyu: “Oh really? Then why are you joining the excitement? Just obediently be a background extra.”
Shen Tingting: “If I’m a background extra, then do I still have any role to play?”
Tang Wanyu: “Don’t tell me you want to be someone’s mistress?”
Shen Tingting: “Mistress? No such thing. ‘Father’ isn’t with her. What I want to be is Cheng Yaojin who suddenly appears halfway!”
Tang Wanyu: “I think you should first go get a rabies shot. Do you know you’ve really gone crazy?”
Shen Tingting: “Strange! You seem to have had a preconceived prejudice against senior ‘Father’ all along.”
Tang Wanyu: “I just don’t want you to regret it in the future. ‘Father’ is mute—do you really want to live with a mute for a lifetime?”
Shen Tingting: “Silence is better than sound, isn’t it? What’s wrong with that?”
Tang Wanyu: “Did you drink some enchanted water he gave you?”
Shen Tingting: “No. Honestly speaking, you really should listen to the songs he wrote.”
Tang Wanyu: “I only listen to classical music. I don’t accept any vulgar and shallow pop noise.”
Shen Tingting: “Then you should listen to his songs even more. If there truly is heavenly music, it should be like the songs he writes—able to penetrate the heart and shake the soul.”
Tang Wanyu: “Fine. Seeing how you defend him like this, I’ll believe you this once. Add those songs to my favorites. I’ll click them and listen when I have time.”
Shen Tingting: (bows slightly with hands clasped) “Thank you, Leader Fish Ball Soup, for your favor. Little Dragon Girl is deeply grateful.”
Tang Wanyu: (laughs) “Oh, stop it! Still putting on airs!”
△ Camera cuts.
▲ Renjie is chatting with Tingting via instant messaging, communicating by typing online.
Shen Tingting: (typing) “Senior, I saw it—a beautiful red-haired girl. This evening she was linking arms with you on Coconut Palm Avenue. Is she your girlfriend?”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “She is a high school classmate of mine. She invited me to dinner.”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “Oh really? Why would a high school classmate link arms with you? Isn’t that something only couples do? Come on, say it—you should have a girlfriend. I won’t laugh at you.”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “Not a girlfriend. Just a good friend I get along with.”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “Then she’s a confidante? Same as me—we’re both your fans.”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “I suppose so.”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “My roommate said that Miss Jiang has quite a background! She’s the annual overall champion of the Singing Celebrity Ranking. And the songs she sang in the competition were all specially written by you.”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “Oh!”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “Senior, stop saying ‘oh’!”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “Oh!”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “I’m currently learning to sing the songs you wrote.”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “Oh oh, oh?”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “I’m telling the truth. I’ve listened to several of your songs—every one is excellent. The melodies are elegant and beautiful, and the lyrics are meaningful with lingering charm.”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “3Q!”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “Senior, can you photocopy a copy of your original songs for me so I can practice on my own?”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “You practice on your own?”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “I’m very good at imitating singers, I’m not lying to you.”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “Why imitate others? You can sing in your own style and characteristics. I’ll play the piano and accompany you in practice.”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “Great, great! I couldn’t ask for more!”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “Oh no! I’ve fallen into your trap…”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “Hehe! With a professional pianist accompanying me, of course I must seize the opportunity—even though I only treat singing as a hobby.”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “Singing—or music—should be an art that pleases the mind and the ears. To treat it as a tool for pursuing fame and profit would be vulgar and overly mechanical…”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “Of course I understand that. That’s why I treat music as a hobby. But your level and realm are clearly different from mine—you are professional, while I am just doing it for fun.”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “Interest is the most important. Interest can be elevated into passion.”
Shen Tingting: (typing) “Yes indeed. Senior, I’m all sweaty—I’m logging off to take a nice shower.”
Yu Renjie: (typing) “Oh, bye-bye.”
77
Time: Day
Location: Renjie’s Piano Room
Characters: Yu Renjie, Shen Tingting
▲ In the piano room, Renjie is playing the song “Blue Tears.”
“Waves shatter upon the restless reefs, crystalline droplets bloom into roses.”
▲ Shen Tingting has only sung the first two lines when Renjie suddenly stops.
Yu Renjie: (OS) “Oh, My God! What is going on? This is completely Muya’s voice…”
Yu Renjie: (sign language, displeased expression) “Use your own voice to sing. Don’t imitate others.”
Shen Tingting: (confused) “This is indeed my original voice. I’m not imitating anyone.”
Yu Renjie: (sign language, puzzled) “Is that so? Why is your voice almost exactly the same as Jiang Muya’s?”
Shen Tingting: (raises hand as if swearing) “I can swear that this is indeed my original voice, although I have previously heard that Miss Jiang sing this song.”
Yu Renjie: (sign language, puzzled) “But when you were at the nursing home, your singing voice was not like this.”
Shen Tingting: “Senior, think carefully again. That day when you heard me sing, wasn’t each song different? When I sang ‘The Last Night,’ my voice sounded like Tsai Chin; when I sang ‘When Will You Return,’ my voice sounded like Teresa Teng. At least you heard more than ten different vocal tones, wasn’t that the case?”
▲ Renjie recalls it, and it is indeed so.
Yu Renjie: (sign language) “But I know those were all deliberately imitated by you to liven up the atmosphere at the time.”
Shen Tingting: “I do not deny that I am like a myna bird, good at imitating others’ voices, but just now when I sang ‘Blue Tears,’ that was my original tone.”
Yu Renjie: (sign language) “But your tone is really exactly the same as Jiang Muya’s, making it hard for me to tell whether you are deliberately imitating her.”
Shen Tingting: “Didn’t you ask me to sing in my own style and characteristics? I am indeed practicing according to what you said!”
Yu Renjie: (sign language) “Alright. It seems I have no choice but to believe you. Let’s continue practicing.”
▲ Renjie plays “Blue Tears” again from the beginning, and Tingting sings line by line.
Yu Renjie: (OS) “The similarity in vocal tone is indeed very high, but in terms of emotional expression and the control of emotions, she and Muya are quite different. Muya is deep and melancholic, while Tingting is pure and aesthetic. It seems I really misunderstood her.”
78
Time: Evening
Location: Coconut Palm Avenue
Characters: Yu Renjie, Shen Tingting, Students
▲ On Coconut Palm Avenue, Renjie and Tingting walk side by side. Renjie looks at Tingting from time to time, and a puzzled expression occasionally appears on his face.
Shen Tingting: “Why are you looking at me like that? Is there bird droppings on my hair or my face?”
Yu Renjie: (sign language) “No, I just haven’t been able to calm my emotions yet.”
Shen Tingting: “Just because my tone is very similar to Jiang Muya’s?”
Yu Renjie: (sign language) “That’s half of it.”
Shen Tingting: “Then what about the other half? I want to hear the other part.”
Yu Renjie: (sign language) “Your temperament is very different from Muya’s. She is a nightingale burdened with thoughts, while you are a carefree lark.”
Shen Tingting: (sign language) “Oh? That metaphor is very vivid, I can understand it. Then may I ask, senior, what do you think you are like?”
Yu Renjie: (sign language) “An empty valley—silent in itself, yet echoing with all kinds of reverberations.”
Shen Tingting: (thinking) “An empty valley? Then let me ask—if a lark flies into the valley and wants to stay there, would the valley be willing to listen to her echoes every day?”
▲ Renjie is startled inwardly; he understands the implication. Tingting reaches out and holds Renjie’s hand. Renjie gives Tingting a simple, innocent, silly smile.
Shen Tingting: “Senior Empty Valley, little lark is hungry. Let’s go find something to eat together?”
▲ Renjie nods and smiles.
79
Time: Night
Location: Boys’ Dormitory, Girls’ Dormitory
Characters: Shen Tingting, Tang Wanyu
▲ In the girls’ dormitory, Shen Tingting opens YouTube and hums Renjie’s piano piece “Dreams in the Mortal World.”
▲ Tang Wanyu pushes the door open, carrying fruit in her hand, and stands by the door listening for a while.
“From the day I met you, my wandering heart found refuge. Your tenderness is so familiar, as if it were a memory left from a previous life.
In the mortal world there are dreams, you are in my dreams; your charming smile, your singing voice graceful and clear.
When I awaken at midnight from dreams, I am moved beyond control; your beautiful eyes glance, your pupils flicker and blur; when the dream ends, it leaves me pondering, unable to bear sighing!
In some distant century, we were once lovers; your beauty and my poetic pen together composed a legend. It was a bond without regret for a lifetime, it was a romantic love game~~~”
▲ Tang Wanyu places the fruit on the table.
Tang Wanyu: “I wanted to ask you to go eat hot pot together for dinner, but you were nowhere to be found, so I just casually had a boxed meal. Here—your fruit. I don’t even know if you’ve already eaten outside.”
Shen Tingting: “Thank you, Leader Fish Ball Soup. For dinner I went with ‘Father’ to eat teppanyaki.”
Tang Wanyu: (surprised) “Together? You and ‘Father’?”
▲ Tang Wanyu touches Tingting’s forehead.
Tang Wanyu: “No fever? But just now you were clearly talking in your sleep.”
Shen Tingting: “I wasn’t talking in my sleep. ‘Father’ let me hold his hand.”
Tang Wanyu: (shocked) “You held his hand? This is a catastrophe—a devastating catastrophe!”
Shen Tingting: “What are you doing, cursing me like that?”
Tang Wanyu: (shaking her head) “No wonder when I just came in, I heard you in heat, singing that lovesick song, with your face blooming like peach blossoms, full of spring feelings…”
Shen Tingting: “This song is really nice!”
Tang Wanyu: “The song isn’t unpleasant, you just picked the wrong target. You, a respectable, unmarried young lady, are chasing after a mute man. If this gets spread around, neither of us will be able to stay at NTU!”
Shen Tingting: (imitating Chen Shui-bian’s tone) “Is it really that serious?”
Tang Wanyu: “I’ve warned you several times, yet you’re still stubborn. As the ancients said: those involved are blinded. I really don’t want to waste more words!”
Shen Tingting: (coquettishly) “Leader Tang, don’t be like that! Senior ‘Father’ is really nice. I didn’t misjudge him.”
Tang Wanyu: “By the way, the school is going to hold a campus folk song competition soon. I hear you humming every day until my ears grow calluses. Why don’t you sign up and sing for everyone?”
Shen Tingting: “Sure! I’ll sing the songs written by Senior ‘Father’ and have him accompany me on piano.”
80
Time: Night
Location: Jin Meiren’s Luxury Bedroom
Characters: Wu Yuetian, Jin Meiren, Jin’s Mother
Jin Meiren: (furious) “You can still sleep? Get up and explain everything clearly to me!”
▲ In the bedroom, Jin Meiren drags Wu Yuetian—who has just returned from social engagements and is lying flat on the bed—down by his collar. Yuetian falls onto the floor, looking helpless.
Wu Yuetian: (astonished) “What’s wrong with you again? Did something short-circuit in your brain, or did you take the wrong medicine?”
Jin Meiren: (suspicious) “Why did you bring your company manager to see Jiang Muya? Are you trying to rekindle your old relationship, singing in harmony like husband and wife? What exactly are your intentions?”
Wu Yuetian: (unhappy) “This is a huge misunderstanding! The company recognizes Jiang Muya’s ability and performance in the rankings and intends to sign her as a key trainee singer. The manager knows Muya is my high school classmate, so he asked me to introduce her.”
Jin Meiren: “Stop fooling me. I think you’re rekindling old feelings with her, using this opportunity to make a show on the surface while secretly advancing your own plans. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re plotting.”
Wu Yuetian: (angry) “Don’t become suspicious over every little thing and make unreasonable trouble with me.”
Jin Meiren: “You know very well who’s playing tricks behind the scenes. Since you can’t forget Jiang Muya, I’ll fulfill your wish and let you two be together.”
▲ She pulls out a suitcase and points at it.
Jin Meiren: “Pack your things. Get out today. When you’ve thought things through, come back and apologize to me!”
▲ Wu Yuetian becomes furious, opens the wardrobe, and begins packing his clothes.
Wu Yuetian: (angry and embarrassed) “You’re the one who told me to leave. Don’t regret it!”
▲ Jin Meiren did not expect Wu Yuetian to take it seriously. Though heartbroken, she cannot bring herself to back down at this moment. With wide glaring eyes, hands on her hips, she stares at him resentfully.
Jin Meiren: (hysterical, stepping forward to kick and hit) “You heartless bastard! Go die outside and never come back!”
▲ Wu Yuetian pushes her away with his backhand. Jin falls to the floor, wailing loudly. Her cries draw Jin’s mother upstairs.
Jin’s Mother: “What’s going on with you two again? Arguing every few days.”
Wu Yuetian: (furious) “I can’t stand your unreasonable daughter anymore!”
▲ Wu Yuetian picks up the suitcase, rushes down the stairs, leaves the house quickly, and mounts his motorcycle. Jin Meiren chases out, but the motorcycle has already gone far, disappearing into the hazy night.
